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Thursday, December 29, 2011

I really wish people would learn how to drive. Working at the mall (well a restaurant at the mall) has been horrible this month. It took me 15 minutes to get from the gas station up to the mall entrance on Monday when I went to work. Then came the task of finding a parking spot. I had to park WAY far away from where my job was. Partly because I did not want to deal with people beeping at you when you're waiting for a space. And because I was desperate because it was 5 minutes before I had to clock in. Joyful. And here's a helpful hint don't block intersections! Oh I can't wait for the normal parking lot to return!

Plus, I love how my manager told a customer the other night who was yelling at me that people were getting sat before her "We don't have a crystal ball to predict when people will get up." OMG almost peed myself when she said that. Not really. just kidding. Cause that'd be gross. Yes, I did underquote you by 15 minutes but EVERYONE came in at the same time and you were 5 people plus a highchair. Oy to the vey. Last night ran smoothly and thank god it was busy because it kept my mind off of things.

I had one of the hardest days ever yesterday. Family issues which I would rather not discuss and a text message from my best friend Shannon from school. (A girl can have multiple best friends, can't she?) Her dad has been sick in the hospital for two months and he passed away yesterday. My heart just aches for her family. He leaves behind three children from one marriage and five from his second. Tonight and tomorrow are the wake which my friends and I are going to both times tomorrow. And the funeral is Saturday at 9am. I switched my shift to be able to go because that's what friends do. Knowing he is out of any pain or misery he was in is a relief for the family but at the same time, it is never easing losing a spouse or parent. Rest in peace, Mr.Farrell. Be the guardian angel I know your family needs right now.

I wish Wife Swap was on more often. I love watching that show. Speaking of shows, you know what comes back January 5th? That's right....it's time to fist pump!!! I am not ashamed to admit I watch Jersey Shore. It's my guilty pleasure. Side note: Vinny graduated from my college the same year I did! I tried so hard to remember if we had any classes together. Don't think we did!And you know what other show I love that comes back January 10th? That's right, Dance moms! I am so thankful I went to a dance studio where our director did NOT act like Abby Lee Miller at all!I am so bad at picking up my room. Maybe it will magically clean itself. Ha, a girl can dream!

Also, super excited to find a code for 101 FREE PRINTS from Shutterfly in my email this morning! SCORE! I have so many Disney pictures I want to print so this will definitely help out. And there's free shipping on orders of $30 or more. I just wonder if I have to do two separate orders or I can combine it.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

After going to bed at 3am Christmas morning after I finally finished wrapping all the gifts (don't get me wrong, I love wrapping but until 3am next year is NOT happening!), I was not going to get up early! No way Jose!

The lovely tree with my handywork of decorations and all the wrapping. I'm pretty sure the tree decided it wanted to be crooked this year. That's okay, it gives it more character!After opening presents and having the traditional eggs, bacon, bagels and fruit breakfast, it was over to the bro's casa for more gifts. To say the kids are spoiled is an understatement. My entire backseat had 2 black garbage bags and two shopper totes FILLED with gifts. But when you think about it, there are three uncles and an aunt that have gifts for the kids plus Grammy spoils them. They didn't even finish opening their gifts because it was too much overload for the 5 yr old and 2 yr old. My goddaughter Sara was overjoyed that I found her the mini ladybug pillow pet to match her bigger pillow pet. She got me three charms for my Pandora bracelet to represent her & her siblings. One of my favorite gifts was the scrapbook my SIL made me from our Disney vacation! It was hysterical to relive some of the memories:Went home and exchanged gifts with the boyfriend before I went to my aunt & uncle's house. He was excited for his new wallet, NJ Devils sweatshirt, sweater, cologne and Darth Vader gumball machine. So what did he get me? Since my Pandora bracelet is filled, he got me a necklace with my birthstone charm and two other charms. It was the last gift I opened and I was having a heart attack while opening it because this was COMPLETELY different from our first Christmas. He also gave me the two Victoria Secret perfumes in the set below. Heavenly Shine smells so good and I am obsessed. The Burt's Bee was from my friend Amanda!Then we went over to my aunt & uncle's house...aka their brand new house which is massive. The boyfriend came and I thought he'd want to hit his head in a wall after spending the time with the family because of all the screaming but he had fun. He's a brave soul!

Mom & Emmy

My godchild & I

And the loot?! What did I get? The coveted Christmas present of 2011 goes to my brother Brian for giving me FABULOUS beauty. OMG I also died of excitement when I took it out. New favorite bag!And got some other things like The Help on DVD, gold studded earrings for my second hole (which seems to always get infected), money, gift card to Vera Bradley store, charms for my Pandora bracelet, etc. I am just so in love with that MK bag my next mission is to find the matching wallet!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Everytime I watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I crack up at the scene in the picture above. It is one of my favorite Christmas movies along with the traditional "A Christmas Story". Sadly, I didn't watch it as much as I usually do this year but I did record it on my DVR so I can watch it. :)

I literally went to bed at 3am Christmas morning because I was finishing wrapping presents. Note to self - start shopping after Thanksgiving because it makes life SO much easier. Or start January 1st! HAHA. My oldest brother was sitting downstairs waiting for everyone (he probably was up at 5am) while the rest of us were comatose. Opened gifts together as a family and I got SPOILED by my brother Brian. Oh how I can't wait to share it tomorrow in the Show Me Christmas linkup!

After opening presents, Mom cooked breakfast and we went over to my brother & SIL's house to exchange gifts with them. This is the first year I did NOT buy for them but I am making her a calendar as a belated gift. They would prefer us to not buy for them because we either don't make that much money (they still consider me as a student) and they would just rather us spend it on the kids. There were so many gifts we only got through two of the four bags of gifts for the kids. My niece Sara picked out a special gift for me (and her grammy as well) which was three matching crown charms to represent her, her brother and her sister since we both have charm bracelets. I think her favorite gift was the mini Ladybug pillow pet I got her. :) She was so excited.She really isn't big on "toys" because she likes arts & crafts.

Since my mom, my SIL and my niece and I went to church on Christmas eve, we went back to the house and my mom got the cooking done for the Christmas dinner at my aunt & uncle's new house. They literally just moved in on the day before Christmas eve so they still had little pieces of blue tape on their cabinets because there were no handles but it is MASSIVE. So much bigger than their last house. I brought my boyfriend to dinner because his parents were suppose to go to the city since an aunt & uncle blew them off and he was going to be alone. He seemed to enjoy the chaos that is my family. Before I went to the aunt & uncle's, I exchanged gifts with him and he was pretty happy. I got a Pandora necklace from him and this Heavenly Shine perfume from Victoria's Secret, a VS gift set of various perfumes and twilight woods from BBW. I actually asked him "Are you trying to tell me I smell?" and he goes "NO! I just like the way these smell." It's funny because I'll wear a new perfume and ask him what he thinks and goes "I don't know. It smells like girl." Men, ha!

Overall, it was a good Christmas! I enjoyed spending time with family and friends and that's all that really matters. Not the amount of gifts or anything. I am super excited to have some time to myself now that I am done with school and just get myself ready to apply for jobs. Hello being a real adult. Kind of scary!

One of my childhood friends, Alex, sent me a text message the other day that her and her boyfriend were going to be in town this week and if I wanted to meet up to get lunch. I have known her since kindergarten when she had her Sally Jesse red bifocal glasses and I wouldn't give them back to her one recess period. Yes, I was evil in kindergarten. I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw her so at first, I thought she maybe texted the wrong person and asked her that. She was like "No you silly goose!" Hopefully it works out because it'll be fun to meet up and catch up on life!

And on a parting note, I wish facebook would stop changing. The whole "Timeline" thing is creepy and I have not switched to it yet. Nor do I hope they "force you" to change to it. I finally got used to that stupid ticker thing on the side of the page. The "Timeline" thing takes forever to load!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Who can hardly believe that tonight is Christmas eve? I mean, really?! Where did 2011 go?! Last Christmas was nice yet weird because I knew I was having surgery three days after. This year, Christmas feels different. Pizza for Christmas eve dinner! Quite honestly I am glad we graduated from Christmas eve dinner, Christmas day dinner and day after Christmas lunch with the cousin from Maryland. Family overload in three days! Don't get me wrong, love the family. But we're just doing dinner at my aunt & uncle's new house tomorrow. And it doesn't matter about the amount of presents I get or anything..I truly enjoy seeing the joy of Christmas on the faces of my nieces and nephew.

I was trying to burn a bunch of CDs for my mom as her Christmas present (well one of them) because she asked for them. I was doing it last night and it's hard since I have an iTunes library with over 2000 songs, half of which she won't listen to. After the 4th cd, it kept having a "medium write error" as it was finalizing the burning. I was ready to take it to the Apple store next week but my boyfriend told me how to fix it! YAY! Love having a boyfriend who is so tech savvy!

I am so excited to give my room a thorough cleaning...that is super pathetic of me to admit! HA!

Hopefully the boyfriend will be booking our cruise the second week of January. I really can't wait to go and get my tan on! Who does not want to shop for cute summery clothes in January? I mean, they are already putting out the Valentine's candy/decorations in Stop & Shop. So is it too early to shop for summer? NEVER!

I am still missing my grade from my Applied Behavior Analysis class and it is driving me nuts! We took our final at the end of November and handed in our final projects on December 6th. Grades were due 12/22 so why have I not gotten it yet? I still need to "complain" about my other class because it was a WASTE of $3000. I did not learn one thing at all (maybe I said this too loudly one day and thats why she gave me a B+) and got more from my other class which started a month later. I know I am not the only person in the class that feels this way but I do think the dean of the school of ed and the head of the special education department should know. Thank goodness I am done taking classes but I still want to know how I managed to get a B+ when I had all A's in that class. Blasphemy.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! See y'all after the holiday!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

This is the first time in years that I have been three days from Christmas and still not finished with my shopping! What is my problem?! I have no idea but for some reason, I did not know what to buy anyone this year/no one feels like they are in the Christmas spirit. Christmas morning should be interesting.

I really wish they would just post my stupid grades already. I only took two classes and the autism workshop. I already have my paper from the workshop to send to NYS for my certification but come on teachers! The grades are suppose to be in by today so maybe later I will see it. I really just want one from my assessment class because then I can make my complaint about the teacher since she was the worst professor I have EVER had. My dog could have taught the course better! Side note: just checked after leaving this open to go to the mall to finish my shopping and she gave me a B+ when I had all 100's on everything. WTF. So complaining!

I really hope my friend's dad does better. He's been in the hospital for two months. :(

I am so over rude people in a restaurant. Sure, you have been to the restaurant 23582032 times. That does mean walk in and seat yourself at any freaking table you want even though there is a hostess. What's worse is some servers can't stand waiting on these people because they'll come in, the wife will knit at the table and then they won't leave until close to an hour AFTER we close. OMG the freaking nerve. I was so annoyed last night I was like "Next time wait to be seated because that is the policy." One of my co-workers Mike put this youtube video up on facebook and it is TOTALLY true. Anyone who has EVER been a server understands this!

If someone does NOT let me sleep in on Christmas eve, I will be one CRANKY person. My brother wakes me up to move my car which is fine. And I guess it is my own fault for not going to bed so late but OMG. I just want to sleep in til noon to catch up on my life! Ha.

I really wish my undergraduate school would stop emailing me that as an alumni my opinion is important for the future of the school and in turn, asks for a donation. How about I will donate when I am done paying off my loans that I owe thanks to attending your fine institution...which will be never!

I really despise the new timeline layout on facebook. It's annoying and makes it just that more complicated looking/annoying looking.

Congratulations to my friend Mike on his graduation today from the NYPD police academy! His first assignment is crowd control in Times Square on New Year's Eve and then he gets assigned his borough. I am proud to say I know one of New York's finest! :)

I find it really odd that my field supervisor from my part-time student teaching placement keeps emailing me about "connecting" on linked-in or whatever that website is called. Maybe it is for professional contact but IDK why it weirds me out!

My room needs to clean itself up. I need to go work on some things downstairs for my mom but right now, it looks like CHRISTMAS threw up in here. And I still need to wrap!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Hola blog amigas! Hoy es miercoles! Hay solamente cuatro dias hasta la navidad. And incase you are not a Spanish fanatic like me, I basically said "Hello blog friends. Today is Wednesday! There are only four days left until Christmas." HEHE.

I'm loving that Christmas is four days away! I can't wait for everyone to open the gifts that I am giving them. I only need to go finish my shopping for my mom and Brian!(PS this is a hysterical picture posted by the Ellen DeGeneres show on FB!)I'm loving that I am done with graduate school. SOOOOOOO EXCITED! i plan on applying for jobs soon.

I'm loving that I got to see this lovely girl last night and will be having drinks with her later. with her living in Indiana and only getting to see her once a year, I like to get as much time as possible with her!I'm loving this new Coach wristlet I bought myself last week. Isn't it adorable?!I'm loving that I am spoiling my mom this year for Christmas. She definitely has way too many people to buy for and cut back this year but I am eternally grateful for everything she has ever done for me and love to spoil her!I'm loving this Erin Condren planner. Totally contemplating order it for myself as a Christmas gift because I feel like this would fit PERFECTLY in any purse I carry and help keep me super organized. Thoughts from anyone who has one of these planners?I'm loving I will soon be spending an entire day by myself having a day of beauty thanks to my boyfriend. O.M.G I cannot WAIT for my massage...first time I am ever having one!

I'm loving that I did not get called for jury duty yet this week! As much as I want to get called (only for an interesting case), I do not want to be called the week of Christmas!

I'm loving that I can sleep in next week after all the Christmas hoop-la is over!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

...even though I am posting this after midnight so it is technically Tuesday. Ha!

I am still in disbelief that this weekend is Christmas. Hello, where did 2011 go?! I am sincerely hoping we do NOT get a blizzard the day after Christmas like we did last year. I swear, it seemed every Tuesday for 5-6 weeks it was snowing. Oy to the vey. This is why I need to move down South!

Every year I always tell myself "I am going to put the Christmas decorations up earlier" and never do. Every year to no fail! HA! The outside lights were up the weekend of Thanksgiving because it was unseasonably warm but otherwise, it is all up to me. The tree is all decorated (the tree always seems to go slanted on me. Maybe it is drunk) and I just really need to give the furniture a good dusting. We recently had crown molding installed so everything is super dusty even though we dusted it. Stupid dust. And this guy at my brother's school cleaned our rugs in the dining room (which we just painted), kitchen and family room. Once that stuff is down and moved back, we can get on with cleaning up downstairs. (I love my mother dearly but she is a pack-rat....nothing to the extreme of "Hoarding Buried Alive) but there's no reason to hold on to some certain stuff). So I just put the boxes back in the attic today and on one of my many trips down, I missed the last two steps and FLEW off the ladder into the bathroom behind me. I swear, klutz is my middle name lately!

I am on call for jury duty this week and so far, 0/2 for Monday and Tuesday. As in I was not called. As much as I want to, I don't want it the week of Christmas. I am super excited that I am off tomorrow because Shannon, Olivia, and I are shopping at Roosevelt Field Mall! A little shopping for ourselves and a little for the rest of the people we have to buy for. I am sure I'l be shopping all this week with my mom.

I really need something else to occupy me during the day. Because I am starting season 5 of FRIENDS since last week. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE that show but my brother asked me this morning "Have you done anything but watch FRIENDS and go to work lately?" LOL. Oh come on you have to love a show like this:And the Christmas card from my brother's family is ADORABLE. I have to scan it because the kids are so freaking cute. When I do, I will post it.

Also, who saw when Jimmy Kimmel gave parents the challenge of giving their kids a Christmas gift early, but to give them a bad one and tape their reaction? He did something similar for Halloween when he told them to tape the kids' reaction after they heard all their candy was eaten. This was hysterical!! You have to watch it here.

And since I officially procrastinated, my grandmother and mother won't get their custom shutterfly calendars for 2012 until AFTER Christmas/closer to the New Year. Oh well! :) Maybe I'll start on the ones for 2013 on New Year's day so I am waaaaay ahead of my game!

Seven Random Facts About Me:1. I know three languages aside from English: Spanish, French, American Sign Language.2. I lived in Seville, Spain for a semester in college.3. I have to sleep with socks on all the time.4. I am the only one in my family who enjoys decorating for Christmas.5. My family always comes to me when they are looking for something lost because I usually find it.6. I probably own over 100 pairs of underwear from Victoria's Secret (they are just so comfy!)7. I cannot wait to have babies one day because I am going to have so much fun dressing them up!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

This was one of my favorite books when I was growing up:"Alexander and the Terrible Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"

because it pretty much describes Friday. Let's see...where did it go wrong.

I haven't slept well at all this week. One day I could sleep in til at least 945, 10 and still be able to get ready for work (at 11:30) on time. I was woken up at 745/8 by my dog barking at my brother pounding on the front door to get in. I am considering getting him a new copy of the house key as his Christmas gift because I am SICK of being woken up to let him in.

Then there was no hot water. All I wanted was a nice hot shower. So I figured I'd try washing my hair in the sink at least....no hot water. CRANKY was I! Then when I went to work, I decided to go to Dunkin Donuts. The guy behind me was UP MY BUTT (which pisses me off when I am driving!) and when I pulled into the parking lot, there was this women SCREAMING at me because I pulled in there and "almost hit her car" when I was no where near her car. Cue the PMS tears. I cried before I went in Dunkin Donuts. Then, when I went to work, when I was driving slowly through the parking lot as you should, someone hauled their a$$ towards me and almost ran into me. Then when I was *trying* to turn into my parking space, someone tried to cut me off. REALLY??! WHAT IN THE WORLD?! I walked into work and cried for liek 5 minutes. Then the shift was not so bad so that was good. After getting a pick me up in Coach (:)) I was walking to my car and almost got hit. WHAT THE FUCK?! (excuse my french) PEOPLE NEED TO SLOW DOWN!!!!!!

And to top it off, my results from the Spanish CST for my certification came in today. Merry freaking early Christmas to me. I missed passing by FOUR POINTs. FOUR! Do you know how HEART BREAKING that is? I feel so discouraged but will BEAT that test's BUTT in February when I retake it!

I am going to go to bed because I had a little too much fun at a friend's karaoke party tonight :) Hopefully Saturday will be a better day!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Current Book(s):I just did a post on this last night but this is the one I am currently reading:Current playlist:- "All I Want for Christmas is You" - Mariah Carey- anything by Taylor Swift really- anything from Glee lately- Justin Bieber's Christmas album-Michael Buble's Christmas album-and I jammed to this on the way to/from school today :)Current color:OPI's Quarter of a Cent-CherryCurrent food:Tositos & Queso. This is dangerous because of PMS and I could eat the entire bag in one sitting!

Current favorite tv show(s):Never gets old...Current needs:- an actual teaching job-to get the Christmas tree up and decorated and all the boxes away after I decorate-to clean downstairs (actually I'd like a maid to do that for me)-to finish switching my summer and winter wardrobes (half of it is on the floor in front of my closet and I dont care anymore lol!)-a little more sleep

current triumph(s):I just handed in my LAST paper of graduate school! i am done...until i decide in like 5 years i wanna get a TESOL degreecurrent celebrity crush:droolcurrent #1 blessing:- being done with graduate school!current indulgence:-all the yummy things I am finding on pinterest!

current outfit:- VS sweatpants and a taylor swift concert t-shirtcurrent excitement:- being done with grad school-christmas is soon-i am going on a road trip with these lovely ladies in Januarycurrent mood:-i want to eat everything in sight. and just wanna sleep. oy vey.

current favorite holiday decoration:-the christmas tree! it smells so good!

current #1 item on your wishlist:something like this!

current new year's resolution:- join a gym if i don't get a membership as an xmas gift and work out 3-4 times a week so i can look like this:

Ever since they "forced" us to read a book and complete an assignment over the summer from 5th grade on, I never found reading fun. I used to when I was little. In fact, one summer I read 250 books!

In the past few years, I have fallen back in love with reading. And last year, I solidified this by buying myself a Kindle. So, what have I been reading lately? Or what will I be reading soon thanks to some freebie books and purchases:I totally want to start reading these books because I have heard nothing but GOOD things about this series:

And I wanted to read this one too:

And who doesn't love Nicholas Sparks?Anyone have any suggestions? I am off to bed now considering I have so much to do tomorrow and before Christmas and there feels like such little time left!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Happy Wednesday everyone! Who can believe that Christmas is in eleven days?! HOLY COW! And there are only two more WILW's of 2011.

Head on over to Jamie's blog at This Kind of Love to show what you're loving on this wonderful Wednesday! :)

I'm loving that tomorrow is my LAST day of graduate school. I hand in my final paper on the student I tutor and then the IEP I had to write for my assessment class (which I just need to type) and voila. DONE! I could not be more excited!

I'm loving Christmas is so soon! I am nowhere near done with my shopping (don't know what my problem is this year) but I just enjoy it. It is not about the amount of presents I receive (my mom keeps saying how she'll scale back) but the thought behind the gifts. Plus, I love watching this movie 24 hours on Christmas eve & Christmas:I'm loving watching my FRIENDS dvds. Hands down, my favorite TV show ever. My SIL gave me the first season on DVD years ago and I either bought every season after that or was sent it as a gift. My brother Brian and I are two years and 3 days apart and he sent me the 8th season as a birthday gift one year in college. So sweet!I'm loving my sister-in-law Laurie. I have known her since I was 6 years old (her and my brother have been together for 18 years). She's more like a sister than a "sister-in-law" and has always been there for me. Her Aunt Dottie died last week and I volunteered to wake up at 6am on my day off to go get her three kids ready on Monday to go to school. She was so grateful. I just adore her and am so glad I can call her my sister "in-law".I'm loving this quote:I'm loving that Beauty & The Beast comes out in theaters again on January 13th, 2012 in 3-D!!! Seriously, it is my favorite Disney movie. Disney's releasing that, The Little Mermaid, Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo all in 3-d starting next year. :) I will definitely be seeing it!I'm loving that my best friend April should be home this weekend and we both want to see the movie New Years Eve! It looks so cute.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Let's talk bucket lists. Everyone has one, whether or not they'd like to admit it. Whether or not it is written down or they keep track of it in their head. I definitely have one. While procrastinating on pinterest, I came across some pictures that had things which were on my bucket list.

So now I am going to share a few (it just *might* be an overload!) ! Many of these were found via pinterest and this awesome page: Before I Die (perfectbucketlisttumblr)

Preferably my engagement ring ;)

I would die. :)

I really just want to go to Italy. Period. Kthankslovebye!

Because every girl wants this!

I know so many people who have done this!

I can't wait to have a little version of me!

And NOT fall on my butt! :)

I have only visited their airport. Sad face.

I cannot wait to have my own children. And spoil them. :O)

After hearing the vows exchanged between my friends Ashley & Tommy at their wedding, calling each other their best friend and their first dance being to "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw, I only hope I can find someone like that and have a happily ever after! <3

So handsome.

Because I only want to do it once! <3

God this looks like HEAVEN!

Oh yeah. Paris. Someone take me there PRETTY PLEASE!

Hello handsome. Come right over my way!

Because they are so cute!

Done! Now I just need a j.o.b. :)

My friends and I discussed doing this two summers ago. This would be fun to look into for summer 2012!

Now I just need to get my butt to a gym, get in shape, run, and get to that goal...eventually!

Hello roadtrip! It is my goal to go to all 50 states (so far I've been to NY, PA, NJ, CT, RI, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, West Virginia, and driven through others but need to go to more!)

Yes please!

With the ring from Tiffany & Co.

LOVE this show!

I did! And want to for part 2 of it!

Because who doesn't love Disney?!

It was my minor in college and I'd love to be fluent in it! I feel like I am losing it by not using it.